Ayodhya puts behind fears, no let up in security

After days of anxiety over the Ayodhya court verdict, the twin cities of Ayodhya and Faizabad today put behind fears of any adverse fallout and all sections of people rooted for peace but there is no let up in security.

Tight security arrangements are still in place with armed personnel guarding streets, schools, colleges while markets opened as usual and people returned to their daily chores, a day after the temple town witnessed a self-imposed curfew.

Palapable tension and anxiety reflecting the situation in the twin cities--the epicentre of the Ramjanambhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute--in the last few days have eased to a large extent and people heaved a sigh of relief that the hours after the Allahabad High Court verdict on the Ramjanambhoomi-Babri Masjid issue yesterday passsed off peacefully.

The makeshift temple at the disputed site, which wore a deserted look for a few days, is again abuzz with activities as devotees turned up to pay obeisance to Ram idols.

"Though the turnout is not huge as compared to normal days, but as the uncertainity is over the devotees have once again started visiting the temple," said Mohd Shareef, who runs a shop on the road leading to the temple.

Even as barricades put as as part of the security masures are well in place, there is no restriction on the movement of the people and rarely vehicles are being stopped for checking.

This is in stark contrast to yesterday's drill when each and every vehicle was being throughly checked and some were not even allowed entry in the town.

"Situation is totally normal, but there will be no let up in the security," Senior Superintendent of Police Faizabad R K S Rathore said.

He said that security arrangements, which include heavy deployment of central forces at the makeshift temple of Ramlala, would remain in place for next few days.

Though there were some apprehensions in the mind of a section of people that there could be a threat to law and order, no trouble was reported from any part of the city

"To an extent the credit goes to the people of Ayodhya, who made all attempts to ensure that peace prevails," Dean Faculty of Arts Ram Manohar Lohia Awadh University Professor S C Tiwari said.

And this is evident from the posters and pamphlets pasted on the city tempos requesting people of all the communities to maintain peace and unity.

"Why not each and every person wants peace, after going though the turmoil for 18 long years harmony is must," said Mahendra Pathak, a reader at Saket Degree College in Ayodhya.